5 Christmas Markets to visit with your family

Christmas markets are a gathering place for those who love fine quality, good, locally made objects, but they’re also where families are able to take advantage of activities and entertainment especially designed for them. Here are 5 markets in the Eastern Townships where your kids are welcomed with open arms.

The Sutton Christmas Market

Children can’t wait for Sutton’s outdoor Christmas Market to begin! Along with Santa Claus, the electric train taking them all around the site, the choir, the petting farm, the candy distribution and the storyteller’s extraordinarily captivating tales, it’s no wonder that they’re the ones who hurry their parents to come here!

This being said, parents will also be happy to discover the more than sixty artisans who are sure to amaze them with their creations. Igloos and wigwams, camp fires, festive music. . . All this comes together in a truly unique market atmosphere.

When? November 24 and 25, as well as December 1 and 2.

The Cowansville Christmas Market

The Gabrielle-Giroux-Bertrand library is completely transformed for a little while during the first two weekends of December to become a magical place loved by our young ones . . . and older ones as well! Yes, there will be many treasures for sale (among them, many were made by kids from 5 to 12 years of age!). However, there’s also Bredouille the elf in-training, who will perform for you, a small Christmas house confection workshop, an elf hunt, storytelling, and of course, make up and colouring crayons are always available for the kids. Outdoors, the celebration continues with giant inflatable toys, music and a bonfire. . .

When? December 1 and 2 and December 8 and 9.

St-Armand’s Arts and Crafts show and Christmas Market

For its 11^th edition, the Salon des métiers d’art de St-Armand—located in the town’s community hall- is joined by the Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes primary school. Why? To offer talented artisans even more visibility and to be able to offer the public more really cool products; the school will welcome a traditional-style market, featuring many of the children’s own creations.

On Saturday, the children will love going from the school to the community hall . . . in a calèche! This being said, they will probably want to stay inside the school for a while because they’ll want to give Santa Claus and the Good Fairy a big hug and attend a free show presented at 3:00 p.m.

When? December 1 and 2

Midnight Madness in Knowlton

A market filled with amazing finds and local gourmet products will fill adults with such joy as they discover their presents under the Christmas tree. But it’s the hot soup and mugs of steaming cocoa that will put a smile on the children’s faces! The same is true for the calèche rides, the Christmas choir, the magnificent garden of lanterns, the light projections on the library walls. . . And an unbelievable encounter with Olaf the reindeer!

Lots of fun and magic during this enchanting evening!

When? December 8, from 5:00 p.m. to midnight.

The Marché de Noël des Pas pressés (Dunham)

In the building of the Relais de la Diligence, several stands will be installed here and there filled to the brim with works of art, terroir products, local beers, all kinds of creations. . . Kids will have fun as they meander through the maze of this Ali Baba cavern. They will, however, especially enjoy petting small animals, here for this special occasion, being transformed by makeup artists, savouring hot chocolate drinks . . . and being amazed by all the surprises that await them!

When? December 15 and 16